He doesn't really play a 4-3-3 though tbh or if he does is soon converts to a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 variant with and without the ball.

Coutinho will start for sure and rightly so.

------------------Mig
--Clyne--Skrtel--Lovren--Gomez
---------------Coutinho
-----------Milner--Hendo
---------------Firmino
--------Benteke--Sturridge


Play him as a false deep lying holding trequarista.

In a 4-3-3 cout takes a midfield berth, as the most advanced of the three. He is one of our most pressing players and recovers the ball an extraordinary amount for an attacking midfielder, add to that his creative and attacking threat and it's a no brainer.

So yes, he always gets in to our team. In a 4-3-3 He will be the most advanced midfielder with Hendo and milner going box to box.

All three have sound positioning, press well and recover the ball, providing more than enough cover for the back 4

Play him as a false deep lying holding trequarista.

think he likes to beat a man too much to play such a disciplined role

If everyone's fit then I'd say the only sure fire starters for me are Coutinho and Sturridge.... (Courridge)

he's in any XI regardless of formation

we're going to have issues regardless when studge gets fit though.

Good issues!

aka selection headaches

good issues exactly

Get Sturridge, Benteke, Coutinho and Firmino fit and firing and I'll need some tissues.

I'll get my coat.

------------Mignolet------------
Gomez----Skrtel----Sakho
--Henderson----Milner/Can
Ibe-------Coutinho-------Fimino
----Sturridge-----Benteke

Its important that we play a system that suits our best players. Simple stuff really.

Yeah...like my formation. Everyone is being played in their best position. Couts & Firmino can be swapped too.

Even Skrtel will shine

13/14 City played 4-2-2-2 with width from the full backs, Nasri and Silva cutting in and two CFs up front when available (Aguero + Dzeko/Negredo) . Toure and Fernandinho were excellent that year and helped control the midfield, Fernandinho in particular has good energy, covered ground.

Liverpool have a similar thing going, everyone fit it could work
Henderson Milner
Firmino Coutinho
Sturridge Benteke

comment by The Blue Kenyan (U1641)
posted 20 seconds ago
13/14 City played 4-2-2-2 with width from the full backs, Nasri and Silva cutting in and two CFs up front when available (Aguero + Dzeko/Negredo) . Toure and Fernandinho were excellent that year and helped control the midfield, Fernandinho in particular has good energy, covered ground.

Liverpool have a similar thing going, everyone fit it could work
Henderson Milner
Firmino Coutinho
Sturridge Benteke
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I was saying this the other week actually.

Back in the day most Brazilian sides in Serie A, and also the national team, used this formation.

It's pretty flexible but requires the two holding midfielders to drop into the full back position when the go forward or CB position is they move wide.

I don't think our full backs are good enough offensively to do that though.

didn't brodges early tactics revolve around a 4 to 5 area 4/2-2-2-2-2 type system?

Kind of.

I've said before he doesn't really use orthodox formations from what I have seen.

Players are given zones within which to operate both with and without the ball.

If you check the heat maps on players then someone like Coutinho would end up being called a central attack left inside forward playmaker and in orthodox terms that position does not really exist.

Mignolet
Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno
Henderson, ?* , Milner
Firminho, Benteke, Coutinho

* I know Lucas isn't really rated by most fans, just as I don't really rate Allen. Is Can ready to be the main man defensively?

i think cout would be wasted in a front 3 and especially wide

he needs runners ahead of him to be at his best. either to pass to or to make later runs into the 18 yard box (or just to shoot from outside of it)

i think cout would be wasted in a front 3 and especially wide

i agree, but i also think he would be at his weakest there aswell given his game is not about stretching the opposition.

big headache for rodgers coming up....until sturridge gets injured two games in

comment by LocoLiverpool  (U18018)
posted 53 minutes ago
------------------Mig
--Clyne--Skrtel--Lovren--Gomez
---------------Coutinho
-----------Milner--Hendo
---------------Firmino
--------Benteke--Sturridge


Play him as a false deep lying holding trequarista.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This has to be one of the wprst suggestions ever. I think you should stick to FIFA/FM

Yes maybe Coutinho is better behind the striker. Although I do feel that a '2' of Milner and Henderson doesn't get the best out of them either. They've both got the energy to go box-to-box, both can pass and score, would you want that reigned in by one or even both of them if they're the protection to the defence? Seems a bit 'Gerrard and Lampard' to me...

back to selection headaches

we have too many similar players in too many positions to fit them all. Only a few are truly undropable, but it would be harsh to drop a fair few others.

Cout has to play, but does that mean that one of hendo/milner sits, Firminho is a sub, Benteke and Studge rotate, Ibe sits, etc.

it would be simpler if everyone had clearer, non-overlapping skills

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

it would be simpler if everyone had clearer, non-overlapping skills
=================

It would but Rodgers has spoken before about wanting players who can play similar positions.

I think it could work in our favour as I reckon oppo managers will find it hard to guess which way we are setting up from the team sheet alone.

In the 13/14 season their were times when Studge, Suarez, Sterling and Cout were on the pitch together so it could work with Firmino, Benteke, studge and Cout but as Rodgers has been saying a lot of work has been focused on defending so i doubt we will see it much. Will only ever happen when we're chasing a game around the 60 min mark